Hair dryer



Ap l 1967 R. N. FORTUNE HAIR DRYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1964 INVENTOR Ruff) /V. For/une BY Mam (7 ATTORNEY Aprifill, 1967 N, FORTUNE 3,313,036

HAIR DRYER Filed Aug. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ruff; /V. Forfune ATTORNEY United States Patent ()filice 3,313,036 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 3,313,036 HAIR DRYER Ruth N. Fortune, 6102 Bertram Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21214 Filed Aug. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 390,972 1 Claim. (CI. 34-99) This invention relates generally to a hair drying apparatus, and more particularly it pertains to a hair drying arrangement adapted to be used primarily as a fraction type dryer about the base of the head.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dryer arrangement which is especially useful for persons requiring only certain areas of the head to be dried, set and the like and for those who are sensitive to overall heat as experienced in conventional dryers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel hair dryer which affords more comfort, convenience and efiiciency of drying than heretofore available from conventional devices.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved distribution for the drying air in a hair dryer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a convertible hair dryer cap for optionally drying the entire hair or a portion thereof on the head of an individual.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hair dryer in accordance with the invention in operative position on a head of a woman;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 1, showing the hair dryer converted to an overall dryer;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged transverse section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the double walled construction of the hair dryer;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail illustration of the arrangement of air outlets in the dryer.

Referring now to the details of the drawing, the improved hair dryer consists of a fractional or partial head-encompassing band assembly 12 of air-impervious sheet material such as a flexible plastic having an outer layer 14 and an inner layer 16, and somewhat stiffened by reinforcing or otherwise along the top edge.

These layers 14 and 16 are secured to each other all around their edges and are cut so as to be wider at the back portion 18 and thus extend down only to the ears and then down around the back of the neck of the wearer.

As best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the inner wall or layer 16 is embossed inwardly with a series of cup-like truncated cones 20 which are perforated with holes 22 on their sides.

When warm dry air is introduced from a source of pressure (not shown) through a telescopic pipe or conduit 26 secured to the back of a chair 24, it passes through a swivel joint 28 into a nipple 30 cemented to the outer layer 14 at the rear of the band assembly 12. The net result is that the band 12 inflates to form a head en circling air cavity having no air outlets except the holes 22 in the cones 20.

As shown by the arrows the air is well distributed over the area of hair being treated as it leaves the holes 22. The truncated cones 20 further provide comfortable support without danger of outlet obstruction. The air exits to the atmosphere along the top of the band 12 without passing over the scalp or forehead of the wearer as best shown in FIG. 1.

If it is desired to convert the dryer 10 to an overall hair dryer as shown in FIG. 2, an auxiliary top 32, in the nature of a rigid plastic dome with a snap fastener equipped lower band 34, is worn over the head and about the upper end of the band assembly 12.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claim the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

A hair drying cap, comprising, an open top, partial head band assembly for encircling about the base of the head of a user and leaving the top and forward portions of the head open, said band assembly consisting of flexible air-impervious inner layer and outer layer secured to one another along their edges to form a fractional head encompassing inflatable head encircling cavity, said layers being formed to be wider at the back of the head of a user to extend down only to the ears and then down around the back of the neck of said user, said inner layer having substantially even spaced cup-like truncated cones outwardly embossed in its exterior surface, with spaced apertures positioned in the lateral sides of said spaced truncated cones, and a conduit connected to said cavity for supplying drying air to said cavity to inflate it, with said drying air passing through said apertures from said cavity over that portion of the head encircled by said band assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,360 1/1906 Dible 34-99 X 1,747,342 2/1930 Adams 34-99 X 1,931,965 10/1933 Ravlin 3499 2,306,100 12/ 1942 Williams 34-97 2,329,352 9/1943 Krueger 34-99 3,043,016 7/1962 Miller 3499 3,064,360 11/1962 Sholin 3499 X 3,113,848 12/1963 Clark 34-99 FOREIGN PATENTS 689,706 6/1930 France.

139,626 11/1934 Germany.

177,464 3/ 1922 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner. A. D. HERRMANN, Assistant Examiner. 

